Tastes

Initially when I opened this up a couple of months ago I got a similar experience many seem to have encountered with this bourbon: very, very weak nose, but the palate and finish were still speaking to me. Now that it's been given some time to oxidize after a few pours it's definitely "opened up." Nose: The classic bourbon players are all here; vanilla, brown sugar, a little oak politely in the background. But the cabernet sauvignon finished bourbon (1 of 3 in this blend) adds a gentle pop of raspberry and other red fruit that plays nicely with everyone else. Palate: Rich and oily, 49.3% ABV is good for this, but I wouldn't mind if it was bumped up either. On the front end it's classic bourbon again: vanilla, brown sugar, some light tingling of cinnamon. The back end is oak, but it's pleasant and doesn't verge on being too bitter or overdone. Finish: Gentle, medium length, and warming. A brief flash of vanilla and cinnamon that slowly fades down into oak and light clove. It lingers nicely and surprisingly sits in the chest after swallowing. Overall I'd say it's successful as a cab finished bourbon; it offers something new without changing the overall experience too much. It honestly hovers around 3.75 to 4 for me; I'm not mad about paying 100 dollars for the bottle now that it's opened up given that I like new experiences and enjoy wine every now and again. If you enjoy both, have the money and want to give it a shot I'd say go for it. If you're on the fence or haven't enjoyed wine finished bourbon in the past, have a pour at the bar but make sure the bottle has been opened quite a bit.